Chapter 5: The Heir Clause

Frederick Ellsworth came through the revolving doors and the cameras swung to him as if he had called them.

He didn't look at the reporters.

He looked at my mother's hand, still red from the guard's grip, and then at Daisy's red cardigan.

"Joyce," he said gently. "Daisy. Go home. My driver will take you."

"Frederick, we were only trying to help," my mother began.

"I know what you were trying to do."

He said it so kindly that she stopped talking.

He turned to the nearest camera and gave it a small, tired smile.

"Families have bad days," he said. "Ellsworth Capital has no further comment. Thank you all for coming."

Nobody argued with him.

Two minutes later the crews were drifting out to their vans.

My mother and Daisy were in the black car, and the lobby was only a lobby again.

Frederick looked at me then.

"Cora," he said. "Is there somewhere quiet?"

Eli answered before I could.

"Conference room, third door on the left. Mr. Ellsworth."

"Eli Draper." Frederick held out a hand and Eli didn't take it. "You've recovered. I'd heard."

"Yes."

"Good for you. Truly."

His voice was warm all the way through, and it made my skin go cold.

The conference room had a glass wall and a long table.

Frederick took the chair at the head without asking.

Eli stood by the window with his arms folded.

I sat across from Frederick and put my tote bag in my lap.

"I won't waste your time," Frederick said. "My son has behaved badly."

"That's one way to say it."

"It's the polite way. I'm a polite man."

He folded his hands.

"Cora, I'm going to tell you something about my family that I'd rather you heard from me."

"Please."

"Porter turns thirty-five in a hundred days."

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